The news was welcomed by leader of Cambridgeshire County Council Martin Curtis who said it was vital to solve traffic congestion which impacted on businesses and commuters in the Fens.

“The A14 is relevant for Fenland - we have vehicles using the A14 from the Fens and lorries coming in and out of the region.

“These issues are a drain for local and national businesses.

“If you can improve road communications our economy will thrive to the best of its abilities. Improving the A14 opens up the key arterial route in and out of Cambridgeshire which can only benefit the Fens.”

Mr Curtis who has worked with the county council to join forces with councils along the whole route of the A14, added that the road would not be tolled as some had feared.

Council leader Alan Melton said he wanted to ensure the whole of the district benefitted from road improvements and added that Fenland’s contribution was the smallest out of all the councils along the stretch of the A14 as we were furthest away.

Cllr Mark Archer said that while at first he was concerned at the amount of money being offered by Fenland he understood the bigger picture and the importance of improving road networks.

“Upgrading the A14 is invest in the future,” he said.

The money will be given over a 25 year period and will not start until 2020.

Cllr Simon King said: “This is a good deal for the Fens, let’s not knock it. Our contribution to the A14 is vital.”

Cllr Virginia Bucknor, however, said she did not support spending so much of Fenland’s public purse on a road which was more than 30 miles away when there were so many local projects that needed funding.